IP Library Granted Patent US 11,686,818
Granted Patent B2
US 11,686,818 · App. 16/828,366 · Granted Jun 27, 2023

Mounting configurations for optoelectronic components in LiDAR systems

Inventors: Mark Armstrong McCord (Los Gatos, CA); Roger David Cullumber (Hollister, CA); Jun Pei (Saratoga, CA); Henrik K. Nielsen (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Cepton Technologies, Inc.
G01S7/481G01S7/4815G01S7/4816G01S17/42G02B6/32G02B6/4206G02B2006/12102
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,686,818
App. No.
16/828,366
Granted
Jun 27, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A LiDAR system includes a first optical lens, and one or more first optoelectronic packages spaced apart from the first optical lens along the optical axis of the first optical lens. Each respective first optoelectronic package includes a first plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the respective first optoelectronic package such that a surface of each respective optoelectronic component lies substantially on the first surface of best focus. The LiDAR system further includes a second optical lens, and one or more second optoelectronic packages spaced apart from the second optical lens along the optical axis of the second optical lens. Each respective second optoelectronic package includes a second plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the respective second optoelectronic package such that a surface of each respective optoelectronic component lies substantially on the second surface of best focus.

Claims (66)

1. A LiDAR system comprising:

a first optical lens characterized by a first optical axis, a first lens center, and a first surface of best focus;

a first optoelectronic package spaced apart from the first optical lens along the first optical axis, the first optoelectronic package comprising a first plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on a first substrate;

a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the first optoelectronic package is mounted on the printed circuit board;

a second optoelectronic package mounted on the PCB, the second optoelectronic package comprising:

a second substrate spaced apart from the first optical lens along the first optical axis; and

a second plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the second substrate, wherein surfaces of respective optoelectronic components of the second plurality of optoelectronic components lie substantially on the first surface of best focus;

an interposer mounting the first optoelectronic package on the PCB, wherein:

the interposer mounts the first optoelectronic package at a different height from the PCB than a height that the second optoelectronic package is mounted from the PCB, so that surfaces of respective optoelectronic components of the first plurality of optoelectronic components lie substantially on the first surface of best focus; and

the first surface of best focus is curved;

a second optical lens characterized by a second optical axis, a second lens center, and a second surface of best focus; and

a third optoelectronic package spaced apart from the second optical lens along the second optical axis, the third optoelectronic package comprising a third plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on a third substrate, separate from the first substrate, such that a surface of each respective optoelectronic component of the third plurality of optoelectronic components lies substantially on the second surface of best focus, wherein the second surface of best focus is curved.

2. The LiDAR system of claim 1 wherein:

the first plurality of optoelectronic components is positioned on the first optoelectronic package such that each respective optoelectronic component of the first plurality of optoelectronic components is oriented substantially toward the first lens center; and

the second plurality of optoelectronic components is positioned on the second optoelectronic package such that each respective optoelectronic component of the second plurality of optoelectronic components is oriented substantially toward the second lens center.

3. The LiDAR system of claim 1 wherein the first optoelectronic package comprises a first surface mount device (SMD) package, and the second optoelectronic package comprises a second SMD.

4. The LiDAR system of claim 3 , wherein the PCB is a first PCB, and the LiDAR system further comprises a second PCB, separate from the first PCB, wherein the second optoelectronic package is mechanically and electrically coupled to the second PCB.

5. The LiDAR system of claim 4 wherein the first PCB has a first curved surface on which the first optoelectronic package is mounted, and the second PCB has a second curved surface on which the second optoelectronic package is mounted.

6. The LiDAR system of claim 3 , wherein the-second optoelectronic package is mechanically and electrically coupled to the PCB.

7. The LiDAR system of claim 3 wherein the first optoelectronic package is one of a plurality of first optoelectronic packages, the-second optoelectronic package is one of a plurality of second optoelectronic packages, the interposer is a first interposer, and the LiDAR system further comprises:

the first interposer having a first plurality of facets, wherein the plurality of first optoelectronic packages are mounted on the first interposer, each respective first optoelectronic package being disposed on a respective facet of the first plurality of facets; and

a second interposer having a second plurality of facets, wherein the plurality of second optoelectronic packages are mounted on the second interposer, each respective second optoelectronic package being disposed on a respective facet of the second plurality of facets.

8. The LiDAR system of claim 1 wherein:

the first plurality of optoelectronic components includes a plurality of light sources; and

the second plurality of optoelectronic components includes a plurality of detectors.

9. The LiDAR system of claim 1 wherein:

the first plurality of optoelectronic components includes a first set of light sources and a first set of detectors; and

the second plurality of optoelectronic components includes a second set of light sources and a second set of detectors.

10. A LiDAR system comprising:

an optical lens characterized by an optical axis, a lens center, and a surface of best focus;

a printed circuit board (PCB); and

a first optoelectronic package mounted on the PCB, the first optoelectronic package comprising:

a first substrate spaced apart from the optical lens along the optical axis; and

a first plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the first substrate;

a second optoelectronic package mounted on the PCB, the second optoelectronic package comprising:

a second substrate spaced apart from the optical lens along the optical axis; and

a second plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the second substrate, wherein a surface of each respective optoelectronic component of the second plurality of optoelectronic components lies substantially on the surface of best focus of the optical lens; and

an interposer mounting the first optoelectronic package on the PCB, wherein:

the interposer mounts the first optoelectronic package at a different height from the PCB than a height that the second optoelectronic package is mounted from the PCB, so that surfaces of respective optoelectronic components of the first plurality of optoelectronic components lie substantially on the surface of best focus; and

the surface of best focus is curved.

11. The LiDAR system of claim 10 wherein each respective optoelectronic component of the first plurality of optoelectronic components is positioned on the first substrate such that the respective optoelectronic component of the first plurality of optoelectronic components is oriented substantially toward the lens center.

12. The LiDAR system of claim 10 being configured as a surface mount device (SMD) package for mechanically and electrically coupling to the PCB.

13. The LiDAR system of claim 10 wherein the first plurality of optoelectronic components includes a plurality of light sources or a plurality of detectors.

14. The LiDAR system of claim 10 wherein the first plurality of optoelectronic components includes a set of light sources and a set of detectors.

15. The LiDAR system of claim 10 wherein the first substrate has a surface characterized by a plurality of facets, each respective optoelectronic component of the first plurality of optoelectronic components being positioned on a respective facet of the plurality of facets.

16. A system, the system comprising:

an optical lens characterized by an optical axis, a lens center, and a surface of best focus;

a printed circuit board (PCB);

a first optoelectronic package mounted on the PCB, the first optoelectronic package comprising:

a first substrate spaced apart from the optical lens along the optical axis; and

a first plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the first substrates;

a second optoelectronic package mounted on the PCB, the second optoelectronic package comprising:

a second substrate spaced apart from the optical lens along the optical axis; and

a second plurality of optoelectronic components positioned on the second substrate, wherein a surface of each respective optoelectronic component of the second plurality of optoelectronic components lies substantially on the surface of best focus of the optical lens; and

an interposer mounting the first optoelectronic package on the PCB, wherein:

the interposer mounts the first optoelectronic package at a different height from the PCB than a height that the second optoelectronic package is mounted from the PCB, so that surfaces of respective optoelectronic components of the first plurality of optoelectronic components lie substantially on the surface of best focus; and

the surface of best focus is curved.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first optoelectronic package is configured as a surface mount device (SMD) package for mechanically and electrically coupling to the PCB.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the first plurality of optoelectronic components includes a plurality of light sources or a plurality of detectors.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the first plurality of optoelectronic components includes a set of light sources and a set of detectors.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first substrate has a top surface and a side surface, and wherein the set of light sources is disposed on the side surface, and the set of detectors is disposed on the top surface.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising the interposer mounting the second optoelectronic package on the PCB.

22. The LiDAR system of claim 10 further comprising the interposer mounting the second optoelectronic package on the PCB.

23. The LiDAR system of claim 10 , wherein the first optoelectronics package is soldered to the interposer.

24. The LiDAR system of claim 10 , wherein the interposer comprises metal pads for electrical connections.

25. The LiDAR system of claim 10 , wherein the interposer provides multiple electrical connections from the first optoelectronics package to the PCB.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
To: CEPTON TECHNOLOGIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062485/0955 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2022
From: CEPTON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061690/0653 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2020
From: MCCORD, MARK ARMSTRONG; CULLUMBER, ROGER DAVID; PEI, JUN; NIELSEN, HENRIK K.
To: CEPTON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 052962/0952 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62823406 · Mar 25, 2019
Related Publication 20200309910A1 · Oct 1, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,663,517